Method and apparatus for dispensing cleanroom wipes

ABSTRACT

A cleanroom wipe dispenser is provided. The cleanroom wipe dispenser may include a housing forming a compartment for removably storing a plurality of cleanroom wipes. The plurality of cleanroom wipes may be uniquely folded so that they are not interfolded so as not to abrade the adjacent cleanroom wipe when being dispensed, thereby eliminating cross contamination of cleanroom wipes. A bottom wall of the housing may define a generally elongated elliptical dispensing opening adapted to limit access to the plurality of cleanroom wipes so as to prevent wasteful usage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the distribution of cleanroom wipesand, more particularly, to a dispenser that prevents wasteful usage andeliminates cross contamination of cleanroom wipes.

Within particular industries, such as pharmaceuticals, biomedical,micro-electronics and the like, it is imperative that exposure tomicrobial contaminants, electrostatic discharge (ESD) and the like areminimized at every turn of the manufacturing process and in and aroundthe workspace, such as a cleanroom, where they are manufactured andhandled. As a result, the use of cleanroom wipes within such workspacesand associated cleanrooms is vital in implementing this imperative.

However, it is human nature for people to use more wipes than necessary,especially when they are not paying for them. This is especially aproblem in cleanrooms where cleanroom wipes are extremely expensive andtypically stacked in a pile. All too frequently, cleanroom workers willtake many more wipes than the one wipe that is needed. And they usually“fan” through the top twenty or more sheets then take two or more. Thistypical behavior not only wastes wipes, but cross contaminates the“fanned” wipes, which is hazardous to good manufacturing practices,particularly when the cleanroom is manufacturing pharmaceuticals,biomedical or organ transplantation tissues and materials. Anotherproblem is that cleanroom wipes are typically sitting on a bench, orcart exposed to the environment, susceptible to environmentalcontamination. Furthermore, they are sitting in plain non ESD bags thatcontain static electricity, which is harmful to a cleanroom thatproduces microelectronics.

As can be seen, there is a need for a dispenser that prevents wastefulusage and eliminates cross contamination of cleanroom wipes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a cleanroom wipe dispensercomprises: a housing having a plurality of walls that form acompartment; a generally elongated elliptical shaped dispensing openingdefined by at least one of the plurality of walls; and a plurality ofcleanroom wipes stored within the compartment, each comprising a sheetuniquely folded in an “C” shape defining an upper leg and a lower leg,and wherein the lower leg of each cleanroom wipe abuts the upper leg ofan adjacent cleanroom wipe, so that each cleanroom wipe abrades theadjacent cleanroom wipe when dispensed through the dispensing opening.

In another aspect of the present invention, method of preventing crosscontamination of cleanroom wipes comprises: providing a housing having aplurality of walls that form a compartment; and a generally elongatedelliptical shaped dispensing opening defined by at least one of theplurality of walls; folding a plurality of cleanroom wipes, wherein eachcleanroom wipe is a sheet uniquely folded in a “C” shape defining anupper leg and a lower leg, and wherein the lower leg of each cleanroomwipe abuts the upper leg of an adjacent cleanroom wipe so that eachcleanroom wipe abrades the adjacent cleanroom wipe when dispensedthrough the dispensing opening; and storing the plurality of cleanroomwipes within the compartment.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, illustrating hidden information;

FIG. 4 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a detailed section view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a rear view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a detailed section view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 10 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, taken along line 10-10 FIG. 2, illustrating a stacking of aplurality of cleanroom wipes; and

FIG. 11 is a detailed view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, illustrating a Double C fold of a cleanroom wipe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a cleanroomwipe dispenser. The cleanroom wipe dispenser may include a housingforming a compartment for removably storing a plurality of cleanroomwipes. The plurality of cleanroom wipes may be uniquely folded so thatthey are not interfolded so as not to abrade the adjacent cleanroom wipewhen being dispensed, thereby eliminating cross contamination ofcleanroom wipes. A bottom wall of the housing may define a generallyelongated elliptical dispensing opening adapted to limit access to theplurality of cleanroom wipes so as to prevent wasteful usage.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 9, the present invention may include acleanroom wipe dispenser 10. The cleanroom wipe dispenser 10 may includea housing 12 made out of ESD-resistant material, having side walls 11generally perpendicularly joined to a front wall 13, a bottom wall 15and a back wall 32. The housing 12 may form a compartment for removablystoring a plurality of cleanroom wipes 30.

The front wall 13 may include a viewing slot 20 along a substantialportion thereof so that a user my visually determine when the pluralityof cleanroom wipes 30 within the compartment are getting depleted, aswell as aiding in the loading the compartment by allowing the user touse two hands while guiding the plurality of cleanroom wipes 30 into thecompartment.

The housing 12 may include a top wall 14 that removably encases thecompartment. In certain embodiments, the top wall 14 may be pivotablyjoined to the housing 12.

The bottom wall 15 may define a generally elongated ellipticaldispensing opening 28 therein. In certain embodiments, any wall of thehousing 12 may define the dispensing opening 28. The dispensing opening28 has a generally increasing width toward the central portion thereofwhich is greater than its width at the ends. The dispensing opening 28may include a back edge and a front edge 29. The front edge 29 may be inthe form of elliptical or curved shape, as illustrated in FIG. 5, sothat the dispensing opening 28 may be wider at its central portion so asto allow limited access to the lowest of the plurality of cleanroomwipes 30 to be dispensed. This elliptical or curved shape is designed sothat a portion of the flap 58 or lower leg of the lowest of theplurality of cleanroom wipes 30 protrudes slightly through thedispensing opening 28. The dispensing opening 28 may be of a size suchthat a limited number of fingers of a person using the device may beinserted in the dispensing opening 28. The dispensing opening 28 may beadapted to accommodate the dispensing of other wipes, such as papertowels, wet wipes and the like.

In certain embodiments, the housing 12 may be pivotally mounted along atleast one side wall 11 to a stand 16. The stand 16 may be adapted tosupport the cleanroom wipe dispenser 10 on a supporting surface, such asa workbench, cart or the like so that the cleanroom wipe dispenser 10may be portable yet operably supported when seated on a moving or newsupporting surface. The pivotable connection may provide at least onepin 22 and at least one adjustment knob 24. The at least one pin 22 andthe at least one adjustment knob 24 may be adapted to rotatably moveabout the axis of the at least one pin 22 so that the angle of thehousing 12 relative to a plane normal to the supporting surface may beadjusted at least 90 degrees thereof in either direction. In this mannerthe opening of the compartment and the dispensing opening 28 may bepresented to users in a myriad of positions and angles.

In an alternative embodiment, the housing 12 cooperates with the backwall 32 so that the cleanroom wipe dispenser 10 may be suitable forattachment to a wall 34 or other support means. The back wall 32 mayprovide a plurality of mounting elements 26 for such suitableattachment. The plurality of mounting elements 26 may include slotsadapted to secure a wall fastener 36, such as a screw, nail or the like,therein, as illustrated by FIGS. 8 and 9. It should be understood thatthe plurality of mounting elements 26 may be any fastener known in theart for fastening or removably securing one object to another including,for example, standard push-button snaps, Velcro-type fasteners, adhesivesubstances, combinations thereof, and the like. It should also be thatthe plurality of mounting elements 26 may be configured in any arrayand/or number, so long as the fasteners function in accordance with thepresent invention as described herein.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the plurality of cleanroom wipes 30 may beuniquely folded so that they are not interfolded or interleaved whenstacked for use in the cleanroom wipe dispenser 10, as illustrated inFIG. 10. By not being interfolded and so not abraded when they aredispensed, the plurality of cleanroom wipes 30 eliminate crosscontamination of cleanroom wipes. Each cleanroom wipe 30 may be foldedin a generally “Double C” shape. Each cleanroom wipe 30 may be a unitarysheet having a first portion 42 and a second portion 44 both defined bya first fold 52 on one end and a first edge 46 and a second edge 48,respectively, on the opposing end, as illustrated in FIG. 11. The firstportion 42 and the second portion 44 may substantially overlap from thefirst fold 52 extending to at least the first edge 46 of the firstportion 42. Between the first fold 52 and the first end 46, the firstportion 42 and the second portion 44 may be complementarily folded attwo complementarily second folds 54 and two complementarily third folds56 so that both overlapping portions 42, 44 form a “C” shape, asillustrated in FIG. 11. A distance from the third folds 56 to the secondedge 48 of the second portion 44 may be longer than a distance from thethird folds 56 to the first edge 46 of the first portion 42 forming aflap 58 at the second edge 48 of the second portion 44.

The plurality of cleanroom Double C-folded cleanroom wipes 30 mayinclude an open side 50, comprising the second edge 48, the first edge46 and the first fold 52; opposite the open side 50, the Double C-foldedcleanroom wipes 30 may include a closed side 60, as illustrated in FIGS.10 and 11. Each open side 50 of the “C” shape may face toward thedispensing opening 28, so as to be easily obtained with a gloved hand ora non-gloved hand through the dispensing opening 28. In certainembodiments, the flap 58 of the cleanroom wipe 30 may be adapted toprotrude through the dispensing opening 28 when adjacent thereto.

Each cleanroom wipe 30 may be disposed relative to an adjacent cleanroomwipe 30, when in the cleanroom wipe dispenser 10, wherein the open side50 abuts the closed side 60 of the adjacent cleanroom wipe 30 so as notto be interfolded or interleaved thereto, thereby not abrading theadjacent cleanroom wipe 30 when being dispensed from the dispensingopening 28.

Each cleanroom wipe 30 may be made from a unitary sheet of cleaning wipematerial that minimizes or eliminates microbial contaminants,electrostatic discharge (ESD) and the like. In certain embodiments, theplurality of cleanroom wipes 30 are custom made. In certain embodiments,the plurality of cleanroom wipes 30 may be adapted so that large wipes30 fit in a small dispenser 10.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. Thecleanroom wipe dispenser 10 disclosed above may be provided. The usermay detach the top wall 14 and place the plurality of cleanroom wipes 30within the empty compartment. Then the user may attach the top wall 14and either seat the stand 16 on the supporting surface or connect theback wall 32 to the wall 34.

In certain embodiments, the user may insert a weight 18 on the pluralityof cleanroom wipes 30. The weight 18 may be shaped to be slidablyreceived by the compartment. The weight 18 may ensure proper pressureagainst the dispensing opening 28, by the downward depression force thatthe mass of the weight 18 applies, for when the plurality of cleanroomwipes 30 get low.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cleanroom wipe dispenser comprising: a housingmade out of ESD-resistant material formed by a plurality of walls so asto define a compartment; and a dispensing opening formed in one of theplurality of walls and defined by a front edge and a back edge, whereinthe front edge has a generally elongated elliptical shape so that itswidth toward a central portion thereof is greater than its width at itsends, whereby access through the dispensing opening is afforded at thecentral portion thereof, comparatively to its ends.
 2. The cleanroomwipe dispenser of claim 1, wherein the back edge has a generallyelongated elliptical shape so that its width toward a central portionthereof is greater than its width at its ends.
 3. The cleanroom wipedispenser of claim 1, further including a viewing window formed in oneof the plurality of walls.
 4. The cleanroom wipe dispenser of claim 1,wherein the plurality of walls comprises a bottom wall and a front wall.5. The cleanroom wipe dispenser of claim 4, wherein the bottom wallforms the dispensing opening.
 6. The cleanroom wipe dispenser of claim5, wherein the front wall forms the viewing window.
 7. The cleanroomwipe dispenser of claim 1, further including a plurality of cleanroomwipes housed within the compartment.
 8. The cleanroom wipe dispenser ofclaim 7, wherein each cleanroom wipe is double-c folded having an openside and a closed side.
 9. The cleanroom wipe dispenser of claim 8,wherein each cleanroom wipe is disposed so that their open side facesthe dispensing opening.
 10. The cleanroom wipe dispenser of claim 8,wherein each cleanroom wipe is disposed so that its closed side abutsthe open side of an adjacent cleanroom wipe.
 11. The cleanroom wipedispenser of claim 8, wherein each cleanroom wipe forms a flapconfigured to protrude out of dispensing opening when adjacent thereto.12. A unitary sheet of cleanroom wipe material for stacking a pluralitythereof, comprising: a first portion of the unitary sheet of cleanroomwipe material, wherein the first portion comprises a first edge; asecond portion of the unitary sheet of cleanroom wipe material, whereinthe second portion comprises a second edge, wherein the first portionand the second portion are connected along a first fold so that thefirst portion and the second portion substantially overlap from thefirst fold extending to at least the first edge of the first portion,and wherein the first portion and the second portion are complementarilyfolded at two complementarily second folds and two complementarily thirdfolds so that the first portion and the second portion form a generalC-shape.
 13. The unitary sheet of cleanroom wipe material for stacking aplurality thereof of claim 12, wherein a distance from the third foldsto the second edge of the second portion is longer than a distance fromthe third folds to the first edge of the first portion forming a flap atthe second edge of the second portion.
 14. The unitary sheet ofcleanroom wipe material for stacking a plurality thereof of claim 12,wherein the C-shape comprises an open side and a closed side, andwherein the open side abuts the closed side of an adjacent unitary sheetof cleanroom wipe material for stacking a plurality thereof.
 15. Amethod of preventing cross contamination of a plurality of cleanroomwipes comprising when being distributed, comprising: providing a unitarysheet of cleanroom wipe material; folding the unitary sheet along afirst fold so that a first portion having a first edge overlaps a secondportion having a second edge; and complementarily folding the overlappedfirst and second portions at two complementarily second folds and twocomplementarily third folds so that the overlapped first and secondportions form a general C-shape, wherein a distance from the third foldsto the second edge of the second portion is longer than a distance fromthe third folds to the first edge of the first portion forming a flap atthe second edge of the second portion.
 16. The method of 15, furtherincluding stacking an open side of the general C-shape cleanroom wipe ontop of a closed side an adjacent general C-shape cleanroom wipe.
 17. Themethod of 16, further including providing a housing made out ofESD-resistant material formed by a plurality of walls so as to define acompartment; and a dispensing opening formed in one of the plurality ofwalls and defined by a front edge and a back edge, wherein the frontedge has a generally elongated elliptical shape so that its width towarda central portion thereof is greater than its width at its ends.
 18. Themethod of 17, further including housing the plurality of cleanroom wipeswithin the housing so that the open side of each cleanroom wipe facesthe dispensing opening.
 19. The method of 18, wherein a portion of theflap of the cleanroom wipe adjacent the dispensing opening is protrudingout of said dispensing opening.